"student of, or dealer in, herbs," 1590s, from herbal + -ist. Earlier such a person might have been called herber (early 13c. as a surname), herbarian (1570s), herbarist, herb-man, herbary (1540s). Fem. formation herb-wife is attested from 1580s.
heraldry
herb
herbaceous
herbage
herbal
herbalist
Herbert
herbicide
herbivore
herbivorous
Herculean